Scotland hit by further UK defence decline

In reality the situation is worse than reported in these official figures, given the planned withdrawal of the RAF from Leuchars and Kinloss
The SNP have questioned the UK Government’s commitment to reversing the decline in Scotland’s defence footprint after parliamentary questions revealed an embarrassing level of conventional equipment being maintained in Scotland – despite Scottish taxpayers contributing more than £3billion a year to the defence budget.

While Scotland’s independent northern European neighbours boast a range of military assets and capabilities – the MoD has left Scotland with no maritime patrol aircraft, no frigates, no conventional ocean-going patrol vessels, no amphibious landing craft, and derisory levels of deployable Army vehicles or artillery.

The revelations come after disproportionate MOD cuts to bases and manpower in Scotland, including the end of flying operations from two out of three airbases and the planned withdrawal of the Royal Marines from Scotland. Despite important assets such as North Sea oil infrastructure the UK will have no amphibious capable troops or Special Forces based in Scotland.

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